Prevent Mosquitoes

[Lousam]

Hello
I am in the propcess of building a BBQ / seating area close to our house and I was wondering if anyone can suggest some plants I can plant around the space that may put off Mosquitoes?

Are there any plants / trees / shrubs that Mosquitoes don't like the smell of or that put then off?

I live in Slovenia, so in winter temps drop below freezing so this also has to be considered and it gets very hot in the summer.

Thanks
Louise
www.sloveniaforfamilies.com/

[contadino]

You could grow a citronella bush. That works a treat. Or put pots of basil all over the place.

[Boots]

Eating Vegemite repels mozzies... am not sure if it is the iron or protein level that is upped... but it is very effective. You can always spot the vegemite eaters from the peanut butter lovers at barbies...

[Wombat]

You could grow a citronella bush. That works a treat. Or put pots of basil all over the place.

We had a lemon scented geranium which was supposed to repel mozzies, one afternoon I sat watching the mozzies play tag in and out of the foliage......maybe our mozzies are more sophisticated

Nev

[ohareward]

Boots. The vegemite thing is the Vitamin B content, I think.
Lousam. Can you see where the mozzies are coming from. They breed in still or stagnant water. Pools of water, pots with water in, all these places are where the mozzies will breed. One way of stopping them is to pour a drop or two of vegetable oil on the water so that it forms a film over the water. The lavae come to the top to breath but can't do it through the oil. It will also stop the mozzies laying their eggs.

Robin

[QuakerBear]

Mozzies are attracted to smells. The one smell which attracts them most...sweat. They're also attracted to blue cheese interestingly enough!

So, and I'm not suggesting that anyone here smells, the best thing to do in the evening is just to give your feet a quick wash. You will really notice a difference.

[Thomzo]

Not quite so ssish but I use a Moziban whenever I go on holiday. I used to be a real target for mozzies but this stops them completely. I have never been bitten when using one.

http://www.moziban.com/index.html

Use a rechargable battery.

The only downside is that you can hear the high pitched noise if you are close enough. I have to put it over the other side of the room at night.
Zoe

[fenwoman]

every year I get my feet and legs bitten by mozzies as I sleep with my feet sticking out of the duvet, next to the open window, below which is my pond. Although the goldfish do a good job of eating larvae int he pond, the dykes surrounding my land is a mozzie breeding haven. Anyway, I discovered by accident that they hate lavender oil. I love the stuff and find it relaxing. Last year I bought a big bottle cheap off ebay and took to sprinkling the bed with it before I got in so as to drift of breathing the aroma. I never got bitten once. This year I ran out recently and hey presto had 3 bites on my right foot and one on my shin which itched so bad that I scratched in my sleep and woke up with the sheets covered in blood.
I bought some more lavender oil and started to sprinkle again and since those 4 bites I have not had one, not only not been bitten but not woken up with a jolt to that horrible high pitched zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz as one of them tries to find a bit of exposed skin to attack.
I would have thought that the smoke from the BBQ would deter most flying pests but plant lots of lavender bushes around the area and rosemary too aswell as other herds as you can break off bits and chuck on the hot coals to add flavour to the food too. Of course it depends on your soil type. I simply cannot grow lavender here on my heavy clay much to my dismay as I adore the stuff.